Lesser kudu

Scientific name: Tragelaphus imberbis

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Lesser kudu is a slender antelope with reddish-brown to greyish-brown coat. Males have distinctive spiral horns and darker colouring than females, which lack horns.

Size and weight

Males weigh 3.5–4.5 kg and measure 90–105 cm in body length; females are slightly smaller, around 3–3.5 kg and 85–95 cm long.

Habitat

Lesser kudu inhabit dry bush savanna and woodland savanna with dense understorey, typically at 600–2500 m elevation. They favour areas with water access and thick cover.

Distribution

Found in East Africa, primarily Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, in suitable bush savanna and woodland habitats.

Diet

They browse on shrubs, leaves, and seeds, focusing on seasonally available plants within their range.

Behaviour

Lesser kudu are primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, most active at dawn and dusk. They live singly or in small groups and are shy, avoiding open ground.

Hunting tips

Look for small, round tracks and droppings. Use waterhole coverage to position yourself; lesser kudu drink regularly. Stalk slowly through dense understorey at dawn or dusk, keeping wind in your favour.

Carcass weight

This species is logged by carcass weight — the animal weighed dressed, the way hunting teams normally report it.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 2 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.